Women back role for unions: study

By Brad Norington, Industrial EditorFebruary 21 2003

Women have more positive attitudes towards trade unions than men, according to research into perceptions in the workplace.

The survey has found a widening gender gap, with just 13 per cent of female employees agreeing that Australia would be better off without unions. The survey, of 1025 workers, found that 20 per cent of males rejected a role for organised labour.

The study was conducted by the Australian Centre for Industrial Relations Research and Training at the University of Sydney. A researcher, Richard Hall, said yesterday that the results confirmed an overall softening of attitudes towards unions.

When the survey was first conducted in 1996, an anti-union position was taken by 26 per cent of men and 23 per cent of women.

Dr Hall said the change among women was reflected in the growth areas for union memberships in nursing, child care and community services occupations, which women dominated.");document.write("

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The survey, conducted for the NSW Labor Council, also found a significant decline in the proportion of employees who thought unions did not look after their members - down from 43 per cent in 1996 to 23 per cent.

The council's secretary, John Robertson, said the survey confirmed that unions had softened their image from the days when they were "synonymous with blue-collar blokes".

He said women worked in areas in which they could see the benefits of union membership, and many had part-time or casual jobs in which job security was a primary concern.

But the survey results are not reflected in membership numbers. Recent figures show only 26 per cent of men and 22.7 per cent cent of women belong to a union.